Savannah Giddings, a 2020 sport management graduate, transferred to the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities in 2018, hoping to expand her career opportunities. Needless to say, her sport management degree from the School of Kinesiology did not let her down. By the time she graduated in 2020, Giddings had a full-time job lined up with the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2020-2021 season.
But COVID-19 had other plans.
“After many bumps that summer, the position was ultimately terminated due to the uncertainty of the NFL season and fan protocol. I was bummed, but understood that it was a real possibility after classes went remote.”
Even though Giddings’ college career was filled with sport management experience—she was a Gopher Sports Marketing intern, a part-time employee for the Minnesota Wild, and a volunteer for Gopher Football and Men’s Hockey—with the sports world on pause, she turned to her plan B.
“I had been bugging my academic advisor in CEHD about my interest in continuing education, specifically law school, since I had transferred into the U. She was a rockstar in helping me explore law while pursuing my degree. I had taken sports law, as well as compliance courses to see if it was something I truly enjoyed. After my position was terminated, I began applying for positions at local law firms and found a fit with my current role.”
Now, Giddings works as a paralegal for a small law firm based out of Wausau, Wisconsin. But even in her current role, Giddings is still able to apply the skills she learned from the sport management program.
“I strongly believe that the interpersonal skills I developed working in fan relations and sports marketing benefit my current role when working with clients on a one-on-one level. I would also say that the self-starter mentality in sports to take control and grab an opportunity when you see one has helped me to succeed. The time management skills I developed in school while balancing class, work, jobs, and internships come in handy with a demanding schedule that is constantly changing.”
In the future, Giddings looks to combine her passion of law and sports.
“I love that I have the opportunity to combine the two. I had never looked into athletic compliance before taking a class with Andrew Nelson, who was a compliance officer for the Gophers at the time.”
Elder law also interests Giddings, but she is still undecided as she enters law school this fall.
“I have not yet made a decision on a law school so I could be anywhere from Washington to Connecticut the next three years. I’m also interested in practicing elder law and working as an advocate for the geriatric population who are most vulnerable to injustices within long-term care facilities. But with three years of law school ahead of me, who knows where that will lead me.”
Though Giddings’ future is unknown, her U of M and Kinesiology roots will always remain constant.
“I try to make it to as many Gopher games as I can. I was able to see friends and old Gopher athletics coworkers at the Maryland-Gophers game in the fall. I am still fairly close with friends from my internship through Gopher Sports Marketing as well as coworkers from the Wild. I also keep in touch with some faculty, two of whom were incredibly kind in helping me navigate the law school application process and also with providing letters of recommendation. I genuinely would not be where I am today without them or the University of Minnesota.”
